U.S. patent application number 12/397860 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-10 for electrically height adjustable head rest device for an automotive vehicle.
Invention is credited to Burckhard Becker, Wilfried Beneker, Van-Toan Ho.
Application Number | 20090224590 12/397860 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40936463 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090224590 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Becker; Burckhard ; et
al. |
September 10, 2009 |
Electrically Height Adjustable Head Rest Device for an Automotive
Vehicle
Abstract
An electrically height-adjustable head rest device of a motor
vehicle seat having a head rest, one or two bars carrying the head
rest, a cross member, which is connected to at least one bar and
comprises an internal thread, and a motor-spindle unit comprising a
spindle engaging the internal thread. On the cross member and/or on
the motor-spindle unit there is provided a guide seat for a guide
part.
Inventors: |
Becker; Burckhard;
(Solingen, DE) ; Beneker; Wilfried; (Leichlingen,
DE) ; Ho; Van-Toan; (Solingen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCCARTER & ENGLISH, LLP HARTFORD;CITYPLACE I
185 ASYLUM STREET
HARTFORD
CT
06103
US
|
Family ID: |
40936463 |
Appl. No.: |
12/397860 |
Filed: |
March 4, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/410 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/821 20180201;
B60N 2/829 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/410 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/38 20060101
A47C007/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 4, 2008 |
DE |
102008012529.6 |
Claims
1. An electrically height-adjustable head rest device in a seat
back of a motor vehicle seat comprising: a head rest; at least one
bar carrying the head rest; a cross member connected to the at
least one bar and comprising an internal thread; and a
motor-spindle unit comprising a spindle engaging the internal
thread, wherein a guide part is provided, and a guide seat for the
guide part is provided on one of the cross member and the
motor-spindle unit.
2. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth
in claim 1, wherein a retaining means for fastening the guide part
is provided and is disposed on the cross member, and the associated
guide seat is attached to the motor-spindle unit.
3. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth
in claim 1, wherein a retaining means for fastening the guide part
is provided and is disposed on the motor-spindle unit, and the
associated guide seat is attached to the cross member.
4. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth
in claim 1, wherein the guide part extends parallel to the
spindle.
5. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth
in claim 1, wherein the guide part is long and has a length that is
not smaller than the length of a free adjustment path of the
spindle.
6. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth
in claim 1, wherein the guide part is short and has a length that
is smaller than about 50% of the length of a free adjustment path
of the spindle.
7. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth
in claim 1, wherein the guide part is short and has a length that
is smaller than about 25% of the length of a free adjustment path
of the spindle.
8. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth
in claim 1, wherein the guide part is provided on the motor-spindle
unit.
9. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set forth
in claim 1, wherein the guide part is configured to be a metal
rod.
10. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set
forth in claim 1, wherein the guide part is configured to be a
U-shaped wire bracket, and the guide part comprises legs extending
parallel to the spindle.
11. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set
forth in claim 1, wherein the guide part is a separate part.
12. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set
forth in claim 11, wherein a seat is provided and the seat receives
the separate guide part.
13. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set
forth in claim 1, wherein the guide part is configured to be a pin
that is injection-molded integral with a main part and the main
part belongs to one of the motor-spindle unit and the cross
member.
14. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set
forth in claim 1, wherein the guide part forms at least one end
limit stop for an adjustment path of the spindle.
15. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set
forth in claim 1, wherein the motor-spindle unit is retained on a
structure part of a seat back frame, the motor-spindle unit is one
of (i) non-rotatably connected to the structure part or (ii)
retained on said structure part and is capable of rotating about
the axis of the spindle.
16. The electrically height-adjustable head rest device as set
forth in claim 1, wherein the motor-spindle unit comprises
fastening means that are configured for fastening to a structure
part of a seat back frame and corresponding mating means are
provided on said structure part.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to German Patent
Application No. DE 10 2008 012 529.6, filed Mar. 4, 2008, which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as part of the
present disclosure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to an electrically height-adjustable
head rest device in a seat back of a motor vehicle seat. The head
rest device comprises a head rest, one or two bars carrying said
head rest, one cross member, which is connected to at least one bar
and has an internal thread, and one motor-spindle unit comprising a
spindle, which engages the internal thread.
[0003] Such a head rest device is known for example from the
document DE 10 2006 047 170 A1. When the head rest device is
mounted inside a seat back, the at least one bar is fixed by a
sliding piece that is provided in an upper edge of the seat back
and forms an outlet opening for the bar. The head rest device is
further connected to carrying parts of the seat back frame.
Usually, the motor-spindle unit is connected to the seat back
frame. As a result, its allocation is fixed.
[0004] Prior to mounting, the motor-spindle unit is not fixed
though; it can rotate about the spindle and thus adopt any position
with respect to the head rest. Irrespective thereof, some vehicle
manufacturers would like that the motor-spindle unit needs not be
connected to the structure of the seat back but that fastening
rather occurs otherwise, in particular only through the sliding
pieces mentioned. In this case, free rotation of the motor-spindle
unit must be avoided. Other vehicle manufacturers want to be
supplied with complete head rest devices that are to be delivered
in a given condition, for example with the head rest in a
completely retracted position. Only in this condition but not in
the condition in which the head rest is completely extended, the
motor-spindle unit must be allocated to the other parts for
shipment and delivery, meaning it is not allowed to rotate freely.
When the head rest is raised in the position in which it is spaced
the greatest distance from the upper edge of the seat back, such a
guide is not needed since the motor-spindle unit is fixed to the
seat back in the mounted condition. Finally, some manufacturers
want a guide between motor-spindle unit and cross member as a
matter of principle, irrespective of their specifications regarding
the delivery condition; others again do not want any guide.
[0005] Accordingly, the manufacturer of the head rest device must
adapt to different wishes of the vehicle's manufacturer. In order
to simplify the production of the very head rest device, it would
be convenient to provide for a head rest device that would cover
almost all the demands of the current automotive manufacturers.
This is where the invention comes in.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is the object of the invention to further develop the
head rest device of the type mentioned herein above in such a
manner that for different demands of automotive manufacturers a
head rest device is proposed, which can be rapidly complemented
with additional parts or from which additional parts can be rapidly
removed so that it can be adapted to all the presently current
demands with respect to the delivery condition and to the guide of
the motor-spindle unit. This object is achieved by an electrically
height-adjustable head rest device in a seat back of a motor
vehicle seat, wherein the device comprises a head rest, at least
one bar carrying the head rest, a cross member connected to the at
least one bar and comprising an internal thread, and a
motor-spindle unit. The spindle unit further comprises a spindle
engaging the internal thread, wherein a guide part is provided, and
a guide seat for the guide part is provided on one of the cross
member and the motor-spindle unit.
[0007] The guide seat is provided for the guide part. The guide
part can be provided but it may also be absent. The guide seat is
always provided. Whether it cooperates with a guide part or not
depends on the wishes of the respective manufacturer of the
automotive vehicle. By virtue of the guide seat, the head rest
device is prepared for a guide part. This guide part can be
inserted any time, even at a later stage.
[0008] In a preferred developed implementation, the guide part
projects toward the part on which the guide seat is disposed. The
guide part is fixed by appropriate means to the respective other
part on which the guide seat is not provided; it is preferably
removably retained and easy to mount. In the inserted condition,
the guide part extends parallel to the spindle.
[0009] There is provided at least one guide seat. A guide seat is a
generally female part of a guide, meaning the guide seat is in
particular defined by a cylindrical hollow body the cylinder axis
of which extends parallel to the spindle. The cylindrical hollow
body can preferably have a lateral opening through which a guide
part can be pushed to enter the guide seat. The guide part can be
brought into the guide seat through axial introduction or through
the just described radial insertion.
[0010] Advantageously, there are provided several guide seats. In
practical use, it is not necessary to use them all. For each guide
seat a guide part can be provided in the other part. For fastening
it to the other part, there is provided a retaining means. This
retaining means makes it possible to fix a guide part with simple
means so that it is allowed to cooperate with the associated guide
seat on the other part, meaning the cross member or the
motor-spindle unit. If the head rest device is not equipped with a
guide part, it has at any rate at least one guide seat on the one
part, meaning on the cross member or on the motor spindle unit.
Preferably, it has at least one retaining means on the other part,
meaning on the motor-spindle unit or on the cross member for fixing
a guide part there. If the head rest device is equipped with a
guide part, this guide part is either retained by the retaining
means or the guide part is fixedly connected. Preferably, the guide
means engages the guide seat at least along a portion of the
adjustment path of the spindle, possibly over the entire adjustment
path. Generally, the guide part is a male part that is received in
the guide seat and is guided over a sufficient axial length.
[0011] However, the guide seat must not necessarily be a female
part; in kinematic reversal it may for example be configured to be
a mushroom-shaped or a cylindrical projection around which a
slotted tube forming the guide part forms a more or less completely
surrounding grip.
[0012] In an advantageous developed implementation, the guide part
may act as an end limit stop for the adjustment path of the
spindle. As a result, no end limit stop must be provided on the
spindle itself. This does not exclude an end limit stop on the
spindle.
[0013] The guide part can be mounted fixedly, in particular
integrally, to the associated part, meaning to the cross member or
to the motor spindle unit, but it may also be a separate additional
part; then, it is preferably releasable.
[0014] Other features and advantages will become more apparent upon
reviewing the appended claims and the following non restrictive
description of embodiments of the invention, given by way of
example only with reference to the drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1: shows a perspective illustration of a head rest
device and of an outlined upper region of a seat back, when viewed
obliquely from behind.
[0016] FIG. 2: shows a perspective illustration of the head rest
device as shown in FIG. 1, but now without seat back and when
viewed obliquely from the top front.
[0017] FIG. 3: is a view of a head rest device like in FIG. 1, but
without a seat back and without a U-shaped guide part.
[0018] FIG. 4: is a view like FIG. 2 of the head rest device as
shown in FIG. 3.
[0019] FIG. 5: is an enlarged view of a lower part of FIG. 2.
[0020] FIG. 6: is an enlarged view of a lower part of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The electrically height-adjustable head rest device is
allocated to a seat back 20 of a motor vehicle seat. This seat back
20 has a structure part 22. The seat back 20 is known per se; the
seat backs used are prior art.
[0022] The head rest device has a head rest 24 that is known per se
and that is configured according to prior art; it is merely
outlined herein. The head rest device further has two bars 26 that
carry said head rest 24 and that are formed by a one-piece
arrangement in the exemplary embodiment. For this purpose, a piece
of tube is substantially shaped in a substantially U shape. The two
legs 44 of the U form the bars 26.
[0023] The head rest device further has a cross member 28 that is
formed from an injection-molded part in the exemplary embodiment
shown. It has wells 29 for receiving the lower ends of the bars 26;
this connection is implemented according to prior art and is known
per se. The cross member 28 connects the lower free ends of the
bars 26. In its center it has an internal thread that extends
substantially parallel to these bars 26. A spindle 32 engages this
internal thread and also extends substantially parallel to the bars
26. It belongs to a motor-spindle unit 34 the main function of
which is to rotate the spindle 32. This motor-spindle unit 34
comprises an electric motor 36 and has a body 38 on which the
electric motor 36 is retained. The body 38 is preferably an
injection-molded part made from plastic. Through a gear, which is
known per se, the electric motor 36 rotates the spindle 32.
[0024] On the cross member 28 there are formed two guide seats 40;
they are preferably made or configured integral with the
injection-molded part. They define a substantially cylindrical,
elongate interior space the cylinder axis of which extends parallel
to the spindle 32. They have a longitudinal slot 42 that allows
access to this interior space. In the first exemplary embodiment as
shown in the FIGS. 1 and 2, each guide seat 40 receives a leg 44 of
the U of a guide part 46. This guide part is bent from round stock,
such as a steel wire. The guide slot 42 is configured for a leg 44
of the U to be pressed into it from the side, using force. As a
result, the legs 44 of the U, or the guide part 46 must not be
threaded in the axial direction and one has the possibility to
configure the free ends of the legs of the U to be bent at a right
angle as can be seen from FIG. 2. The guide seat 40 serves the
purpose of guiding a leg 44 of the U or a guide part 46 altogether
in the longitudinal direction, meaning parallel to the spindle 32.
The cross member 28 is adjustable with respect to the motor-spindle
unit 34, which is stationarily associated with the seat back 20
when the spindle 32 is rotated.
[0025] The adjustment path depends on the length of the spindle and
also on the free length of the legs 44 of the U, the dimension of
the cross member 28 having to be deduced every time in the
direction of adjustment. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the
cross member has its largest dimension where it forms the internal
thread 30. Accordingly, this dimension must be taken into
consideration when calculating the free adjustment path. In the
first implementation, the free adjustment path is given by the
length of the legs 44 of the U between the body 38 and the base of
the guide part 46 less the described dimension of the cross member
28.
[0026] Retaining means 48 for releasably receiving the guide part
46 are provided in the body 38. In the concrete exemplary
embodiment, these retaining means 48 are substantially formed from
three fixation points, the elasticity of the material of the guide
part 46 being additionally used for fastening. As a result, the
upper, right-angled end regions of the legs 44 of the U are
retained on the one side in lower bight portions open toward the
inside and on the other side in upper bight portions open toward
the outside. They can be released from the body 38 any time by
driving the upper free ends apart and by slightly rotating the body
38.
[0027] In the exemplary embodiment shown, there is also provided an
additional guide seat 50. It is also formed in the cross member 58
and has the shape of a round channel open toward the top; it is in
particular a cylindrical blind hole. This second guide seat 50 is
also provided twice in the exemplary embodiment. It cooperates
together with a respective second guide part 52 that projects from
the underside of the body 38, parallel to the spindle 32 and in the
direction of one of the described blind holes. This second guide
part 52 is quite short; it only extends over less than 1/3 of the
free adjustment path, for example over 5 through 15%. It only comes
into action when the cross member 28 and the motor-spindle unit 34
have come sufficiently close, i.e., when the head rest has been
raised sufficiently upward for the short, journal-shaped second
guide parts 52 to engage the associated second guide seat 50. In
the relative position shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2, the second
guide part 52 and the respective associated second guide seat 50
are not engaged. The second guide part 52 is configured integral
with the body 38, as an injection-molded added part.
[0028] In the second exemplary embodiment as shown in the FIGS. 3
and 4, this second guide arrangement 50, 52 is the only one
provided; the first guide part 46 is absent. In the delivery
condition for mounting, the cross member 28 is so close to the
motor-spindle unit 34 that the second guide means 50, 52 are
engaged. Then the cross member 28, the bar 26 and the head rest 24
are clearly associated to the motor-spindle unit 34.
[0029] The motor-spindle unit 34 is fastened to the structure part
22 of the seat back 20. For this purpose, suited fastening means
are provided; they are prior art. Pins 53 for example project from
the body 38 in the direction opposite to the second guide part 52,
said pins being introduced into recesses of the structure part 22;
then, they are secured. One thus obtains a non-rotatable
connection.
[0030] It is however also possible to only provide for one such pin
53, which is provided as a continuation of the spindle in the upper
portion of the body 38 and which engages a corresponding recess or
a corresponding hole of the structure part 22. As a result, the
motor-spindle unit 34 is fixed but still capable of rotating about
the axis of rotation of the spindle 32. By virtue of the first
guide means, meaning of the first guide part 46 and the first guide
seat 50, such a rotation is prevented. Hence, this described
solution is not suited for the second exemplary embodiment.
[0031] In an upper edge 54 of the seat back 20, sliding pieces 56
are inserted in a known way, said sliding pieces incorporating the
bars 26 and being connected to the seat back 20. They form an upper
terminus and at the same time the outlet openings for the bars 26.
They are also configured according to prior art. The spindle has a
limit stop at its lower end.
* * * * *